Tailpiece for stringed instruments



W. I. KIRK. TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 1919.

1,367,526. I Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

SSIEGNOR TO LYON 8:. HEALY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed December 3,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER I. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tailpieces for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, "forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to tail pieces for stringed instruments, such as banjos.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and practical construction oftail piece for such stringed instruments, particularly for banjos,

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and expeditious means for securing the strings of the instrument, either by means of a loop or knot at the end of such strings. 1

Another object of the invention is to avoid any-projecting parts to interfere with the person or clothing of the operator playing the instrument. I

Another object of the invention is to obtain simplicity, compactness of construction and low cost of manufacture.

Another object or the invention is to secure the foregoing and other desirable resultsin a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a banjo having a tail piece embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of the same, on'an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tail piece itself;

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections taken on line 4-5 in Fig. 3, looking in opposite directions.

Referring to the drawings I show a banjo 1, having strings 22 and a tail piece 3 em bodying my present invention.

This tail piece is made in the form of a plate bent as shown in Fig. 2 so as to have two flat portions 3 and 3", the former of which overlies the top of the banjo and the latter of which extends down alongside the end of the same.

The main or body part 3 of the tail piece 3 is provided with a series of slots 5-5 and 6-6, at the ends of which are preferably located apertures or openings 7-7 and 8-8.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 242,098.

The apertures 77 and 8-8 are adapted to hold the strings in position and the slots 5-5 and 6-6 permit the strings to gain access to said apertures.

Said body portion or member 3 is also provided with an aperture 9, the inner edge 10 of which is preferably provided with slots 1111. The other edge 12 is provided with downwardly extending prongs or projections 13-13. The edges 10 and 12 are preferably elevated from the surface of the body portion 3 and said elevated edge portions are preferably provided by a structurally separate member which is fitted and firmly secured in position in an aperture formed in the body part 3, (Figs. 4 and Thus the strings 2-2 after passing through the apertures 7-7 and 88, may be held in position either by the slots 11 or the prongs 13. In case the strings are provided at their ends with knots as shown by the left hand string in Fig. 3, said knots will simply be engaged in the slots 11. In case the strings are provided with loops as the right hand string in said Fig. 3, said strings will be engaged by the prongs 1313.

The tail piece member 3 is held in positio by a holding. member 16 arranged to ex down theedge or side of the instrument 1, between the portion 3 of the member 3 and the instrument, as shown in Fig. 2. The member 16 is suitably connected to the member 3, as fer example, by pivoting it by means of a pin or spindle 17. The member 16 has its lo er end bent to form a transversely extending portion 18 and through this is passed a screw 19 having its lower end threaded and provided with a nut 20. A lug 21 is secured to the rim 1 of the ins rument 1 by means of a screw threaded belt or member 21 passing through said rim 1 the inner end of said member 21 being provided with an enlargement or nut 22. '1 bus the bolt 19 will secure the tail piece in position and this may be adjusted by suitable adjustment of the bolt 19 and its nut 20. A. thumb screw 23 having a knurled head 2d extends through the portion 3 of the member 3 and acts against the member 16. By adjustment of this thumb screw 23 an adjustment of the tail piece member 3 may be brought about.

It will be seen that the strings of the instrument may be very easily and quickly atto the downwardly extending prongs 13 in case the ends of the strings are looped, or by simply engaging them in the slots 11 if the ends of the strings are knotted. It will also be seen that this takes place practically on the face of the instrument and come quently may be easily done without undesirable tipping or manipulation of the instrument. It will also be seen that the ends of the strings are concealed or at any rate not exposed so that they will not be interfered with or rubbed by the arm or hand of the person playing the instrument. This is also true of the devices for engaging the string ends, such devices being concealed or at least not exposed and forming no undesirable proections to engage the hanes or clothes of the operator. It will also be seen that the device can be very cheaply made and that it is very simple and compact, doing away with all complicated and operating mechanisms.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A tail piece for stringed instruments comprising a member having a body portion overlying the top or face of the instrument and means for securing said member to the instrument, said member having said overlying portion provided with means for engaging the ends of the instrument strings, said means comprising prongs on said body portion extending toward the instrument.

2. A tail piece for stringed instruments having a member provided with a body portion overlying the top or face of the instrument, said body portion having an aperture between its ends and string engaging devices along the edges of said aperture, said string engaging devices consisting of projecting members extending toward the instrument.

3. A tail piece for stringed instruments having a member provided with a body portion overlying the to or face of the instrument, said body portion having an aperture between its ends and string engaging devices along the edges of said aperture, said string engaging devices consisting of projecting members on one transverse edge of said aperture and slots on the other transverse edge thereof.

4. A tail piece for stringed instruments having a member provided with a body portion overlying the top or face of the instrument and also having an end portion bent transversely to said body portion and extending downwardly at the edge of the instrument, and means for securing said member to the instrument, said member having its body portion provided with a transversly extending aperture, the opposite transverse edges of which are raised above the surface of the body portion of said member, the edge nearest the strings being provided with longitudinally extending slots and the other edge being provided with downwardly extending prongs.

5. A tail piece for stringed instruments comprising a tail piece member and means for securing same to the instrument, said member being provided with prongs extending toward the instrument for engaging the strings.

6. A tail piece for stringed instruments comprising a tail piece member and means for securin member being provided with prongs extending toward the instrument for engaging the strings, and also with a recess along one edge of which said prongs are arranged.

7. A tail piece for stringed instruments comprising a tail piece member and means for securing same to the instrument, said member being provided with prongs extendingtoward the instrument for engaging the strings, and also with a recess along one edge of which said prongs are arranged, and being also provided with slots along the opposite edge of said recess.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of November, A. D.

WALTER I. KIRK.

same to the instrument, said; 

